Talk-Polywell.org

Just the thing for fusion hobbyists.

Ordinary T-shirts could become body armor



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boron_carbide

Its ability to absorb neutrons without forming long lived radionuclides makes the material attractive as an absorbent for neutron radiation arising in nuclear power plants. Nuclear applications of boron carbide include shielding, control rod and shut down pellets. Within control rods, boron carbide is often powdered, to increase its surface area.

Boron is also somewhat toxic--one of the fibers we were warned about messing with should we be called to clean up an airplane crash while in the AF. PRobably not something to make T-shirts out of.

Sounds itchy. It might be OK for a layered Polywell neutron shield, though. If powdering the Boron Carbide makes for more effective control rods, does whiskering the Boron Carbide and layering the resulting cloth make for more effective (mass-wise) neutron shields? Which counts more, density or surface area? Note they talk about also using the cloth as a structural composite. Double-duty as shield and structure would help reduce lift mass.